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Krakatau Facts. Volcanic Island in Indonesia Between Java and Sumatra About 7 km across Rising 800 meters above sea level Long active volcano Eruptions over several days 10 a.m., August 26, 1883: Explosion Explosion = 150 megatons of dynamite Heard 3600 km away in SE Australia
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Krakatau Facts • Volcanic Island in Indonesia • Between Java and Sumatra • About 7 km across • Rising 800 meters above sea level • Long active volcano • Eruptions over several days • 10 a.m., August 26, 1883: Explosion • Explosion = 150 megatons of dynamite • Heard 3600 km away in SE Australia • 4 km3 of ash shot 30 km high
Remnant Island Survived • Rakata remained above sea level • Covered in 40 meters of ash • Temperatures at eruption 300o C to 850o C • No life observed
The Damage • Krakatau and nearby islands sank • Tidal waves over 36 meters high • Destroyed 295 towns on Java and Sumatra • Killed over 35,000 people • Ash cloud affected world climate
A Century Later: 1984-85 • Thick green rain forest • No pythons seen • 30 species of birds, 9 species of bats • Several species of rats and reptiles • Over 300 species of small animals • Life Covers a New Geography
Life Returns to Rakata Return of life studied by scientists • Spring 1884: A tiny spider • Fall 1884: A few shoots of grass • 1886: 15 species of grass and shrubs • 1889: Large lizard eating crabs on coast • 1897: 49 species of grass and shrubs
Decades Later • 1919: A large python; patches of forest • 1928: Almost 300 species of grasses • 1929: Several pythons seen; forests covered island